State park fees needed for maintenance, according to advocates and lawmakers

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Those interested in visiting state parks in Illinois may have to pay a fee to offset a cut in funding to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR).

Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn (D) wants to reduce the department’s budget by 13.5 percent, or $16.2 million. IDNR currently has a budget of $61million.

House Bill 5789 passed the Illinois House with an 81-29 vote Monday, March 26, and now heads to the state Senate.

The bill — which has Quinn’s support — gives IDNR the discretion to set the fee. IDNR is considering $25 per person for an annual pass to the state park system and between $5 to $10 for a daily pass, said spokesman Chris McCloud.

The fees could generate about $9 million, said state. Rep. JoAnn Osmond, R-Antioch.

Supporters of the bill said it would allow IDNR to perform much-needed maintenance.

Jack Darin, director of the Illinois Sierra Club, an environmental advocacy organization, said: “I think it’s a small price to pay. Illinoians are used to going to state parks in Wisconsin, which does charge user fees. Those parks are in great shape. Our parks are not.”